Dnipro, Friday afternoon, 29 May
A coolish day today, the last couple have been rather cold for this time of year, with thunderstorms and rain each afternoon lasting for around 20-30 minutes before our comes the sun again. Usual for this time of year.
Most of Ukraine is on tender hooks awaiting the promised big Russian strikes, Zelenksy fled the country this am so we all expecting an interesting weekend. He always flees whenever Ukraine is about to attack into Russia and stays away during the retaliation. He's a coward, hardly worth expending breath on anymore.
In the last few bigger attacks there was virtually no air defence active, so I suspect won't be much different now thankfully. In truth, western air defence does far more damage and causes far more death than Russian strikes. The big strike last weekend which involved close to 700 drones and 90 odd rockets and missiles killed only 2 people.... Less people than Ukrainian neo nazi forces kill in the border towns every day when they attack civilians in the villages and regions which border Ukraine. The attack on Starobilsk was disgusting, everyone here was abhorred by it. Even amongst Ukrainians it has caused a sense of outrage. Many people here in Dnipro have family and food friends living in Lugansk.
I have been driving the past few days, military convoys of equipment and men still flow east, the cemeteries on the drive west keep filling up, noticeably more new graves every time I go.
Fuel is expensive, we are at around $ 1.80 per litre atm for petrol, around $ 2.00 for diesel. Food up slowly too I am told by my partner, and less imported goods than usual, but plenty of ukrainian alternatives.
Electricity has been fairly stable, which is a huge bonus. TCC and military stops for forced mobilisation continue to become more prevalent, so too do attacks on TCC officers which is great to see.
Russian forces continue to advance, Ukrainians and Russian soldiers continue to die, and I believe we are fast approaching the point when the conflict will overflow into the bordering European countries, which should scare everyone, but surprise no one.
Last night a Russian drone appears to have flown into Romania causing damage, and I am enjoying all of the nato countries explaining why it isn't an article 5 event. Article 5 is itself a joke, anyone who things any country is going to war with Russia over any of the Baltic states, or attacks into Romania etc are deluded. Likewise the concept of the usa providing a nuclear umbrella for Europe. Please, no president would ever plunge the usa into a nuclear exchange with Russia over any country in europe.... The idea is laughable.
